Butter mold



Feb. 27, 1945. J, M CH RLTON 2,370,522

BUTTER MOLD Filed April 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7/ INVENTOR. 4

BY mur v Feb. 27, 1945 CHARLTON 2,370,522

BUTTER MOLD Filed April 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Shget 2 ll/IL IE 1 El 4 INVENTOR. /0/7/7.M 6/70/7/0/7 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 BUTTER MOLD John M. Charlton, Oakland, Calif., assignor to I R. A. Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc.,

Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 28, 1942, Serial No. 440,817

6 Claims.

The invention relates to molds in which soft butter or the like is placed to harden into a relatively large block preparatory to the cutting of I the block into small squares suitable for Backaging or dispensing, and relates'more particularly to mechanism employed for opening and closing the side Walls of the mold.

Butter molds of the present character are commonly in the form of a rectangular container having a bottom wall and side and end walls which are hingedly connected to the bottom wall for movement to and from a rectangularly closed position. Resilient means is provided for normally urging the walls away from their closed positions so as to facilitate th release of the hardened butter block from the mold. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism attached to the walls of the mold which may be quickl and easily operated to cause a movement of the mold walls to closed position against the urge of the aforesaid resillent means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character above which will apply a powerful closing force and move to an over-center locked position positively insuring the retention of the mold side walls in closed position until intentionally and forcibly operated torelease the walls for movement to open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character above which may be constructed of a minimum number, of sturdil formed parts which will be capable of withstanding long and hard usage to whichdevices of the present character are subjected.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism of the character described which will provide a positive opening force as well as a closing force to the mold walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism of the character above having a manually engageable operating element which is so constructed and designed with respect to the mold and associated parts, that the same provides a convenient handle at one end of the mold for convenient handling of the mold.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description ill may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a butter mold constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the butter mold.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken sucstantiallyon the plane of line '33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the mold taken substantially on the plane of lin 4 -4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the mold in a tilted position.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the mold.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary crosssectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 1-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a corner of the, butter mold.

The butter mold depicted in the accompanying drawings comprises a rectangular container H having a bottom wall l2 and opposed-rectangularly related side and end walls 13 and I4, l6 and I1. All of the walls are preferably formed of wood, and the side and end walls are connected to the bottom wall in a manner to permit a limited movement of the walls relative to the bottom so that when the butter is to be removed from the mold, the side and end walls may be spread outwardly from-their rectangular closed position to disengage the hardened butter block in the mold. The hinged connection between the side and end walls to the bottom wall is best shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the'joinder of the end walls l6 and Il to the bottom, which connection is typical, is illustrated. As here shown, the inner face of the side and end walls are provided with a horizontal groove H3 in which is seated a corresponding tongue I9 extending from the bottom 12. A spacer cleat 2| is mounted across the base of the side and end walls which supports at its outer side a flat anrular torsion producing spring member 22 and the parts are held in assembled relation by a plurality of screws 23 which extend through the spring, cleats, side and end walls and into the bottom wall and preferably fit loosely in the side and end walls to permit limited pivotal movement of these walls relative to the base. The spring member 22 extends completely around the baseof the mold and is provided with an appropriate set whereby the same will normally urge the side and end walls to their open posltion. Desirably the screws 23 which extend parallel to the bottom l2 are threaded through hard wood plugs 24 fitted. in the bottom'to prevent stripping of the screw threads.

Mounted across the upper ends of the side and end walls and rabbetted thereto are a plurality of reenforcing cleats 26, 21, 28, 29 which are here secured in place by dowel pins 3i. Preferably the cleats 2,8 =and 29 extending across the ends l6 and ll of the mold are somewhat longer than the normal widthwise dimension of the mold so as to overhang the ends of cleats 26 and 21 mounted on the side walls I3 and I4 and the end cleats are notched as shown in Figure 8 to receive and interlock with the ends'of the side 3 cleats. Preferably the recess 32 .defining the notch in the end cleats is provided with a tapered side wall 33 which is adapted to engage a each other to closed position. Preferably the openingmovement of .the walls away from each other is so limited .as .to constantly retain the ends of the side cleats within the recesses 32 01 the end cleats, the :greater separation illustrated in Figure 8 being here used merely for improvedlshowing of the construction.

, Means for drawing the walls into closed posi- .tion, and more specifically means for drawing the .end walls together, which in turn pull in the side walls, here consists of a crank rod 36 mounted .at the outer side of cleat 28 and operatively connected by a pair of connecting rods 31 to the oppositeiend cleat .29. seen in Figure .2 .isformedadjacent its ends with offset -.portions..38 and 39 defining crank throws and a center ,ofiset portion 4| defining .an operatinghandleandis secured to the outer face of cleat 28 by straps 42 and 43 mounted adjacent the throws .38 and .39 and providin bearing caps for journaling the .crank rod. The crank throws 3.8 and 39 are spaced apart bya distance greater than the (normal spacing .of thesidecleats 26 and 2.1 andarethus positioned at the overhanging \end portions of the end cleats. Formed in the .end cleats directly in .front of the crank throws :38 and 3.9 are verticalslots 44 which, as

best illustrated ;in figures 4 and 8, receive and ,permit limited vertical oscillation of the connecting .rods 3]. .One end 48 of the connecting rods is journaled to one of the crank throws 38 and 39 .by looping the end of the .rod around the crank throw and the .oppositeend 41 is extended through a receivi li Opening 48 in the opposite raising of the handle 4|, the crank throws 38 and 39 will be swung outwardly away from the end cleat 28 and thereby draw the opposite end cleats 28 and 29 towards each other to closed position. The design is further arranged so that the mold walls will be drawn into their closed position as the crank throws are elevated to a. dead center position with respect to their pivotal axis and the line of tension of connecting rods '31. In accordance with the present invention and as an important feature thereof,

' therefor.

The crank rod as best the crank throws are adapted to be moved slightment of the connecting rods 31 with the top wall 550i "the cleat slots 44, as shown in Figures 3 and 8. Ofiset portions 45 are formed at the rods '31 and provide increased longitudinal resilience As will be understood from the foregoing, mechanical advantage is provided in the crank operation and this mechanical advantage increases to a very large amount as the crank throws approachand reach their dead center :po

.sition, when the greatest .force .must .be applied upon the cutting table, I prefer to round the ends 5i and .58 .of the end cleats 28 and .29 as here shown in Figures ,5 and 6, .so that the ends of these .cleats may be initially rested upon the cutting table, as shown in Figure 5, and .the mold rotated to inverted ,position about the rounded ends .of the cleats. When .the mold ,is in inverted position .upon the cutting table, the operator may engage and elevate the crank handle ll so as tosimultaneously release the mold walls from the butter block and elevate the mold from the block. In this latter movement of the crank, the connecting rods 31 are placed under compression by reason .of the engagement .of washer .53 with the .cleat wall 54 .so .as to positively spread the end walls. Usually the operator after .end cleat .29 .andoperatively fastened to the cleat at .the outer .side thereof by nuts 49 threaded .on the .rod .end 4] .and supporting a washer 5! against the cleat. Preferably and as shown in Figure .4, the nuts and washers are contained in .a recess 5.2 provided in the .outer face of the cleat 29. In order to obtain a positive opening as well as a positive closing force in the operation of the crank rod .36, I pre'fer to mount a washer 53 .on each of the connecting rods 31 against the lifting the open mold from the butter block will swing the mold .to the .floor .using the lever .por-' ticn All .as .a handle, thereby dropping the mold onto .the opposite .end 11. With this most .convenient handling of .themold, it ,is necessary to protect the heads '61 of screws 23 located at the base of the end walls L1,.as otherwise these screw heads will become wonnandmutiliated and prevent withdrawal of thexscrews as may he .necessary in the ,repairQand .upkeep .of the mold. To protect these screw heads and to provide a door engaging bumper on .the mom, I' plovidea floor rest .62 lbest shown in Figures-.1, .Gand 7., which is here formed of ametal strap fastened in place by the screw vheads 5.! .and having ,un dulated portions .63 extending outwardly well beyond the screw .heads .6 I.

I claim:

1. In .a wall .closing mechanism .for a butter mold of the type constructed with .a bottom wall and .rectangularly arranged sidefland end walls hingedly connected .theretoand provided with .top

cleats interfitted to cause movement of said walls to closed position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall upon drawing of said end walls toward each other, a crank rod journaled for rotation on one end wall cleat and having a pair of crank throws positioned in widthwise relation adjacent to but outside of said side walls, and a pair of connecting rods carried by said end wall and secured to said other end wall cleat and extending lengthwise and to the outside of said side walls and connected to said crank throws whereby upon rotation of said crank rod said end walls may be drawn toward each other, said crank rod being provided with a laterally offset portion centrally of the length thereof adapted for manual engagement and rotation, the design of said crank rod being such that said offset portion will be positioned in depending relation in a substantially vertical plane in the open position of said mold and in a substantially horizontal plane in the closed position of said mold, said design being such that said crank throws move to and slightly over dead center position in the closed position of said mold.

2. In a wall closing mechanism for a butter mold of the type constructed with a bottom wall and rectangularly arranged side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and provided with top cleats interfitted to cause movement of said walls to closed position substantially perpendi cular to said bottom wall upon drawing of said end walls toward each other, a crank rod journaled for rotation on one end wall cleat and having a pair of crank throws posiitoned in widthwise relation adjacent to but outside of said side walls, and a pair of connecting rods carried by said end wall and secured to said other end wall cleat and extending lengthwise and to the outside of said side walls and connected to said crank throws whereby upon rotation of said crank rod said end walls may be drawn toward each other, said crank rod being provided with a laterally offset portion centrally of the length thereof adapted 'for manual engagement and rotation, the design of said crank rod being such that said offset portion will be positioned in depending relation in a substantially vertical plane in the open position of said mold and in a substantially horizontal plane in the closed position of said mold, and said design being such that said crank throws move to and slightly over dead center position in the closed position of said mold, and stop means engageable by said connecting rods operating independently of the closing of said walls preventing rotation of said crank rod beyond the last mentioned position of said crank throws in the closing rotational movement of said crank rod. p 3. In a wall closing mechanism for a butter mold of the type constructed with a bottom wall and rectangularly arranged side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and provided with top crank throws positioned in widthwise relation adjacent to but outside of said side walls, and a pair of connecting rods secured adjacent one end to said other end wall cleat and extending lengthwise and to the outside of said side walls and journaled at their opposite ends to said crank throws whereby on'rotation of said crank rod said ends walls may be drawn towards each other, said first end cleat being formed with vertical slots aligned with and receiving said crank rods and permitting limited oscillation of the latter therein. a

4. A wall closing mechanism of the character defined in claim 3 wherein the end walls of said slots are positioned to engage said connecting rods and to define the limit of movement in one direction of said rods corresponding to a rota- A tional displacement of said crank throws to and slightly beyond dead center position with respect to said connecting rods.

' 5. In a wall closing mechanism for a butter mold of the type constructed with a bottom wall and rectangularly arranged side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and provided with top cleats interfitted to cause movement of said walls to closed position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall upon drawing of said end walls toward each other, a crank rod journaled for rotation on one end wall cleat and having a pair of crank throws positioned in widthwise relation adjacent to but outside of said side walls, and a pair of connecting rods secured to said other end wall cleat and extending lengthwise and to the outside of said side walls and connected to said crank throws whereby upon rotation'of said crank rod said end walls may be drawn from or toward each other and said throws will move to and stop in over-center position, each of said connecting rods having a laterally ofiset portion intermediate its ends affording re silient stretching of said' rod.

6. In a wall closing mechanism for a butter mold of the type constructed with a bottom wall and rectangularly arranged sideand end walls ,hingedly connected thereto and provided with top cleats interfitted to cause movement of said walls to closed position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall upon drawing of said end walls toward each other, a crank rod formed with offset portions adjacent the opposite ends thereof to define a pair of crank throws and formed with a center offset providing an oper ating handle, straps secured to one end cleat and providing bearing caps journaling said crank rod on said cleat, said straps being located between said throws and said handle, said throws being located widthwise of said mold in positions outside of said side wall cleats, said end cleat being provided with vertical slots adjacent said throws, a pair of connecting rods secured adjacent one end to said other end cleat and extending lengthwise of said mold and through said cleats interfitted to cause movement of said walls to closed position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall upon drawing of said end walls toward each other, a crank rod journaled for rotation on one end wall cleat and having a pair of 

